Family Law

Estate Planning & Probate

Profile

Professional Experience: Jody Stahancyk has earned her reputation as a strong woman with a generous heart, a formidable opponent in the courtroom, and a pillar of her community. She began her legal practice in 1973 as a Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney, where she successfully prosecuted for 6 years. In 1979 she was appointed as the Referee (Pro-tem Judge) for the Multnomah County Juvenile Court where she sat until 1982. After this appointment she spent a year as an Assistant Oregon Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division. From 1983 until she began private practice in 1986, Jody was a full-time mother and wife.

Education: Crook County High School, 1966; Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1970; Institute for American University, Aix-en-Provence, France, 1968-69; University of Oregon, Juris Doctorate, 1973.

In 1986, Jody founded this firm and has continued making innovative and creative advances in the area of family law to this day. She prides herself on creative solutions to difficult problems in every area of her work. Stahancyk, Kent & Hook has grown to have offices in Portland, Bend, Prineville and Astoria, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. SK&H is one of the leading family law firms in the Northwest.

Professional Activities: Jody is a member of the Oregon State Bar as well as a member of multiple local bars where she has served on various committees. Jody regularly lectures at continuing legal education seminars as well as being a guest lecturer at various Oregon colleges and law schools.

Community Activities: Jody is currently the President of the Board of Directors at Child Centered Solutions, a non-profit organization she founded, and has previously served on the boards of Children’s Relief Nursery, the Perry Center, Boys and Girls Club, Children’s Charity Ball, Lutheran Family Services and as a Trustee of Linfield College.

Jody particularly enjoys working with the SK&H High School Intern Program, which provides real-world work experience to twenty-five high school students. The SK&H Student Interns polish their skills in work ethic, presentation, etiquette, problem solving and creative business thinking. Jody also actively supports the Portland State University's Women's Basketball Program and values the relationship the firm maintains with the team.

Awards: Jody was honored in 2008 by the American Marketing Association's MAX Award for Best Single Medium Print Advertising as the Creative Director of SK&H, and that same year was recognized by the Portland Business Journal as an Orchid Award Winner. In 2007, Commerce Magazine selected her as the Ultimate Rainmaker of the Year. Jody received special recognition from her peers in 2006 as one of the top 50 Superlawyers in Oregon, and as one of the top 25 women. She was voted by her peers to the annual Super Lawyers list 2006 - 2014. In 2005, SK&H was the first firm to win the prestigious Better Business Bureau Large Business of the Year Award for overall excellence in Integrity, Community Service, Community Involvement, and Innovative Business Practices. Jody was also recognized as a Top Contributor of The Lawyer's Campaign for Equal Justice in 2005. In 2003, Jody was selected to receive The Alumni Service Award from Linfield College for her efforts in bettering her alma mater. Jody was recognized as the program sponsor for Protecting the Rights of the Child by the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College and the Oregon Law Institute. Jody was awarded the White Rose Award in the March of Dimes Salute to Women of Excellence in 2001. In 2000, The Lawyer's Campaign for Equal Justice recognized Jody for achieving Ten Years of Championing Access to Justice. Jody has also received a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating from the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers in 2001 through 2010.

2005 Better Business Bureau Large Business of the Year Award for overall excellence in Integrity, Community Service, Community Involvement, and Innovative Business Practices. SK&H is the first law firm to win this prestigious award., Better Business Bureau Large Business of the Year Award , Better Business Bureau , 2005

Top Contributor Category, The Lawyer’s Campaign for Equal Justice, Top Contributor Category, The Lawyer’s Campaign for Equal Justice, 2005

“Salute to Women of Excellence”, White Rose Award, March of Dimes , 2001

Bar/Professional Activity:

Member of the Oregon State Bar

Pro bono/Community Service:

Ms. Stahancyk currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Child Centered Solutions (CCS), a non-profit organization she founded in 2006 to help protect the rights of children involved in high conflict divorce. CCS is the first organization of its kind in Oregon and is on the forefront of the drive to expand the rights of children nationally. , 2006

Ms. Stahancyk also developed the Student Worker Program at Stahancyk, Kent, Johnson & Hook. Through the Student Worker Program, SK&H employs high-school-aged students and teaches them the necessary skills to achieve not only in a professional office in environment, but in college and careers beyond. The program stresses work ethic, presentation, etiquette, problem solving and creative business thinking, teaching students to become great employees.

Additional Sources of Information about Jody L. Stahancyk

Jody L. Stahancyk:

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.